Portable pump assembly

ABSTRACT

A portable pump assembly is provided. The pump assembly includes a pump and various accessories that enable the pump or alternatively, the pump and a pouch containing a liquid for injection, to be fixed to various accessories without requiring modification of the pump box and without requiring specific fixing apparatus for each of the accessories used with the pump.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable pump assembly.

More precisely, the invention relates to a portable pump comprising apump proper mounted in a box, and a plurality of accessories that can befixed on said pump box.

In the medical and hospital fields, ever increasing use is being made ofsmall-sized pumps, in particular of the peristaltic type, for deliveringmedical or physiological serums to patients. These pumps serve todisplace various liquids within a flexible hose having one end connectedvia a cannula or a needle to the patient, with the rate at which liquidis injected being under very accurate control. Usually such pumps are inthe form of a box containing both the mechanical portion of the pump andits electronic control circuits together with an electrical powersupply. A keypad is provided on the front face of the pump forprogramming operation of the pump and also various indications.

The pump can be used in various situations. It may serve to dispenseliquid to a patient confined to a hospital bed. Under suchcircumstances, it is desirable to be able to fix the pump on a bracketthat may itself also support the flask of liquid that is to bedispensed. In other cases, the pump is worn continuously by the patient.In this situation, either the pump needs to be fixed to a belt worn bythe patient for reasons of convenience, said belt itself carrying apouch containing the liquid to be injected, or else in othercircumstances the pouch is contained in a case that forms a kind of bag,and it is then desirable to be able to associate the pump with the bagcontaining the pouch of liquid.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable pumpassembly in which the pump can be associated with various accessoriesenabling the pump to be fixed and/or the pump and the pouch containingthe liquid for injection to be fixed. It is also desirable for the pumpto be capable of being conveniently fixed to said various accessorieswithout needing to modify the pump box and without having to usespecific fixing means for each of the accessories used with the pump.

To achieve this object, according to the invention, the portable pumpassembly which comprises a pump mounted in a box and a plurality ofdistinct accessories fixable on said pump box, is characterized:

in that said pump box has both a control face and a fixing face that isdistinct from the control face, said fixing face including firstmechanical fixing means and non-moving first locking means;

in that it further includes a single link member having a first face anda second face, the first face being provided both with second mechanicalfixing means, said first and second mechanical fixing means forming arib-and-slideway system, and with moving second locking means such thatwhen the first and second mechanical fixing means co-operate mutually,the first and second locking means also co-operate to secure said linkmember on said box, and the second face including a first fixing zoneand a manual control element for unlocking the second locking means;

in that each accessory includes a second fixing zone suitable forengaging at least a portion of said first fixing zone; and

in that it further includes fixing means for fixing said second fixingzone on at least a portion of said first fixing zone.

It will thus be understood that by means of the invention it ispossible, by making use of the link member which is always of the sameshape, to fix an accessory on the fixing face of the pump box. Thefixing face of the pump includes special means for enabling the linkmember to be fixed and locked or unlocked, while the link member itselfincludes standard means for fixing to the accessory that is to besecured to the pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention appearmore clearly on reading the following description of various embodimentsof the invention, given as non-limiting examples. The invention refersto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the front face of the box for a pump;

FIG. 2 is a view of the fixing back face of the pump box;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section on line III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section view on line IV--IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view from beneath of the link member;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the link member;

FIG. 7 is a section view on line VII--VII of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the link member fitted with a first accessorythat forms a hook;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but as seen from above;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second accessory that can be fixed onthe pump and that consists in a piece for fixing to a bracket; and

FIGS. 11 to 13 are perspective views of another accessory fixable to thepump and consisting in an case for containing the liquid to be injectedby means of the pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference initially to FIGS. 1 to 4, there follows a description ofan example of a pump, and in particular a peristaltic pump, suitable foruse in the invention. The pump comprises an outer box 10 of generallyrectangular shape having a control front face 12 and a fixing back face14. Inside the box, there are to be found essentially a peristaltic pump16 of conventional type including rotary wheels that co-operate with adeformable tube 20 along which there flows the liquid to be injected.Inside the box, there are also circuits for controlling the operation ofthe pump and for monitoring said operation, together with an electricalpower supply.

On the front face 12 of the box, there are keys for controllingoperation of the pump, given reference 22, and preferably also a displayelement 24. On the back face 14 of the pump box, means are provided forfixing and locking the pump box on a link member which is describedbelow. The fixing means essentially comprise two slideways 30 and 32that preferably extend lengthwise relative to the box and that arepreferably integrally formed in the thickness of the walls of the box.The slideways 30 and 32 are separated by a groove-forming hollow zone 34in which a locking ramp 36 is formed having a sloping portion 36a facingthe engagement inlet of the recess 34, and a portion 36b having a steepface to constitute a locking face.

With reference now to FIGS. 5 to 7, there follows a description of apreferred embodiment of the link member given overall reference 40. Asmentioned briefly above, the link member serves to enable variousaccessories to be fixed to the pump box. In a preferred embodiment, thelink member 40 is constituted by an elongate piece 42 having asubstantially plane portion 44 in which an opening of generallyrectangular shape 46 is formed. A tongue 48 is mounted in said openingto pivot relative to the plate 44 about two pivot axes 50 and 52disposed between a free end 54 and a locking end 56 of the tongue 48. Ina preferred embodiment, the entire link member 40 is made of a plasticsmaterial, and the tongue 48, the pivot axes 50 & 52, and the plate 44are integrally formed, thereby defining not only the pivot axis 50, 52but also resilient return means for putting the tongue into the plane ofthe plate 44. The plate 44 has a side wall 58 from which there projecttwo ribs 60 and 62 disposed on opposite sides of the plate 44. It willbe understood that the ribs 60 and 62 are located in a plane that isoffset relative to that of the plate 44. The ribs 60 and 62 areconfigured so as to enable them to slide in the slideways 30 and 32 ofthe box 10 when the link member is placed facing the back face of thepump box. The locking end 56 of the tongue 48 has a locking projection64 which is disposed facing the groove 34 in the back face of the pumpbox. Consequently, when the link member is engaged against the back faceof the pump box, the locking projection 64 slides in the groove 34 andcan go beyond the locking ramp 36. By co-operation between the slideways30, 32 and the ribs 60, 62, and also by co-operation between the lockingprojection 64 and the locking ramp 36, the link member 40 can be securedto the back face of the pump box in temporary manner. It will beunderstood that by pushing on the outer face of the end 54 of the tongue48, it is possible to lift the locking projection 64, thereby enablingthe link member 40 to be released from the pump box. Thus, because ofthe way in which the pump body is linked to the link member, these twopieces can be separated very easily and the pump can have any externalfixing member removed therefrom.

The top face 44a of the plate 44 also constitutes a zone on which anaccessory can be fixed. For this purpose, the plate includes fixingholes such as 66, 68, and 69. It should be observed that at least aportion of said fixing zone, e.g. the portion defined by the holes 66 orthe set of holes 66 and 68, leaves the control end 54 of the tongue 48free so as to enable the link member to be unlocked from the pump box.

As already mentioned, various accessories can be fixed to the fixingzone of the link member 40 depending on the way in which the pump isused. FIGS. 8 and 9 show a first accessory which constitutes a hook orclip. This hook is constituted by a substantially rectangular resilientplate or blade 70 having a free end 72 and including at its second end74 an extension 76. The free face 76a of the extension constitutes asecond fixing zone for the accessory 70. The face 76a has blind tappedholes such as 78 facing holes 66 in the link member. By engaging screwssuch as 80 in the holes 66 and the blind holes 78, the end 74 of theflexible blade 70 can be secured to the link member. The blade 70co-operating with the top face 44a of the link member 40 thusconstitutes a hook that can, for example, be engaged on the belt of apatient who needs to wear the pump 10.

With reference now to FIG. 10, there is described another example of anaccessory that can be fixed to the pump box. This is a piece 90 forfixing the pump 10 on a bracket. The piece 90 comprises a jaw 92 fittedwith a clamping screw 94. The jaw 92 is disposed around the bracket (notshown in FIG. 10) and the screw 94 enables the jaw 92 to be clamped ontothe bracket. The jaw 92 has a fixing block 96 pivotally mounted thereonby means of a ball-and-socket system. The block has a sloping face thatconstitutes the fixing zone of the accessory. In FIG. 10, a link member40 is shown fixed via its top face 44a to the face 98 of the block 96 bymeans of screws (not shown in the figure) which are engaged in the holes66 and 68 of the link member 40. The face 98 of the block preferablyleaves the control end 54 of the tongue 48 free. The link member 40 canthen be locked to the pump box 10 in the manner explained above.

Because of the hinge between the block 96 and the jaw 92, it is possibleto rotate the pump box so as to give it any desired orientation suchthat its control face is easily accessible, particularly when it isfixed on the vertical bar of a tripod support and/or on a horizontal barof the bed of a patient.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show another accessory that can be associated with thepump 10 by means of the link member 40. This accessory is constituted bya case in the form of a bag or rigid pocket whose bottom portion 102 isdesigned to receive a flexible pouch (not shown in the figure)containing the liquid to be injected. The rigid top portion 104 isdesigned to receive the pump box 10. The box 10 is fixed to the wall 106of the case 100 by means of the above-described link member 40. Themember 40 is fixed to the periphery of an opening 110 formed in the wall106 so that the ribs 60 and 62 lie inside the case and the top face 44afaces outwards. On this face, the holes 66 and 68 can be used to fix aclip 70 of the type described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 in orderto enable the case 100 to be hooked onto the belt of the user.

FIG. 13 shows the pump box 10 mounted in the case 100. It also shows theportion 112 of the tube 20 connected to the bag contained in the case100, and the portion 114 of the tube whose other end is fixed to aninjection needle or cannula.

Naturally, numerous other accessories could be fixed in temporary mannerto the pump box by means of the single link member 40.

In particular, the accessory fixed on the link member 40 may be a maleor female fastener element suitable for co-operating, e.g. bysnap-fastening, with an additional female or male fastener element. Theadditional fastener element may be a specific fixing piece.

We claim:
 1. A portable pump assembly comprising a pump mounted in a boxand a plurality of distinct accessories fixable on said pump box,wherein:said pump box (10) has both a control face (12) and a fixingface (14) that is distinct from the control face, said fixing faceincluding first mechanical fixing means (30, 32) and non-moving firstlocking means (36); said pump box further includes a single link member(40) having a top face (44a) and second mechanical fixing means (60, 62)disposed in a plane offset from the top face, said first and secondmechanical fixing means forming a rib-and-slideaway system, and withmoving second locking means (48, 64) such that when the first and secondmechanical fixing means co-operate mutually, the first and secondlocking means (48, 64) also co-operate to secure said link member ofsaid box, and the top face including a first fixing zone and a controlelement (54) for unlocking the second locking means; each accessory (70,90, 100) includes a second fixing zone suitable for engaging at least aportion of said first fixing zone; and each accessory further includesfixing means (80) for fixing said second fixing zone on at least aportion of said first fixing zone.
 2. A portable pump assembly accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the first and second mechanical fixingmeans comprise slideway-forming means (30, 32) secured to one of theelements constituted by the box (10) and the link member (40), and ribs(60, 62) suitable for co-operating with said slideway-forming means andsecured to the other element.
 3. A portable pump assembly according toclaim 1, characterized in that the non-moving first locking meanscomprise a locking ramp (36) formed in the fixing face of the box (10),and in that the moving second locking means comprise a tongue (48)mounted to pivot relative to said link member (40, 44), said tongueincluding a first end (56) provided with a locking member (64) suitablefor cooperating with the first locking means when said first and secondfixing means are co-operating, and a second end (54) constituting saidcontrol element.
 4. A portable pump assembly according to claim 1,characterized in that said first and second fixing zones respectivelycomprise orifices (66, 68, 69, 78) and tapped holes, and in that thefixing means comprise screws (80).
 5. A pump assembly according to claim1, characterized in that said control element (54) for the secondlocking means is external to at least a portion of said first fixingzone.
 6. A portable pump assembly according to claim 1, characterized inthat one of said accessories is constituted by a resilient blade (70)having a free first end (72) and a second end secured to an extension(76) projecting from a face of said blade, the free end (76a) of saidextension forming said second fixing zone, thereby enabling saidaccessory to constitute a hook when fixed on said link member.
 7. Aportable pump assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that oneof said members is a fixing piece (90) for fixing to a bracket, saidfixing piece comprising a fixing jaw (92) for engaging the bracket and afixing body (96), said fixing body having a face that forms said secondfixing zone.
 8. A pump assembly according to claim 7, characterized inthat said fixing body (96) is connected to said jaw (92) via aball-and-socket assembly.
 9. A pump assembly according to any one ofclaims 1 to 6, characterized in that one of said accessories isconstituted by a case in the form of a bag (100) having a first portion(102) suitable for receiving a pouch containing the liquid to beinjected by means of said pump, and a second portion (104) suitable forreceiving said pump (10), said second portion having a wall (106)defining a second fixing zone suitable for co-operating with the firstfixing zone of said link member (40).
 10. A pump assembly according toany one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one of said accessoriesis constituted by a snap-fastening member suitable for co-operating withthe snap-fastening member of an additional accessory.